THE sight of the Akta-Vite Campfires Against Cancer crew droving 100 cattle into Tamworth on the eve of the Telstra Country Music Festival couldn’t be more fitting given that droving has provided inspiration for countless country music song writers.

Dan Phegan, Ian James, Colin Mitchell, Yola Cox and their support crew are on a 10-month trek from Darwin to Corryong on the world’s longest charity horse ride. Mr Phegan and Mr James dedicated the ride to a relative and a friend who died from cancer. They aim to raise $500,000 for cancer research and money raised in this State will go to The Cancer Council, New South Wales.

On Thursday, January 16 the crew of 20 will drove 100 cattle into Tamworth where the mob will be sold the following Monday, adding to the current fundraising total of $200,000. About 50 of the total 150 head were donated by north-west landholders in the past month and by the sale 50 cattle would have been sold at earlier Gunnedah and Tamworth sales.

The Tamworth Country Music Festival is a much anticipated destination because Dan Phegan is a musician and the crew has attracted the support of 20 country music artists on a CD titled Trail of Dreams to commemorate the trek.

“The best part about being involved in Akta-Vite Campfires Against Cancer has been meeting some of the legends of Australian droving and the country music industry – it’s a once in a lifetime experience,” Mr Phegan said.

“We have high expectations for fundraising during the Country Music Festival; we raised $18,000 when we were in Mt Isa and we hope to raise more than $20,000 while we’re in Tamworth for the festival.”

In addition to the cattle sale the crew’s fundraising during the festival includes a camp oven roast dinner and campfire with the stars under the Golden Guitar from 7pm on Saturday January 18. Entertainment will be by Southbound, Toe Sucking Cowgirls and artists off the Trail of Dreams CD including Brendon Walmsley, Melinda Schneider and Travis Sinclair.

There will be an exhibition at Ray Walsh House, Peel St, of works donated by 21 outback artists: Belinda Williams, Brett Garling, Bill O’Shea, Tracey Dallas, Peter Mortimore, Tim Munshenko, Doris Kaminski, Peter Browne, Christine Porter, John Wilson, Hugh Sawrey, Tania Bartlett, Robert Lovett, Rupert Richardson, Roz Goody, Georgia Manzur, Robert Wilson, Sara Bishop, Winsome Board, Di King, and Peter J Hill.

The exhibition will culminate in a fundraising art auction at the Telstra Country Wide Marquee in Remembrance Park, near Bicentennial Park at 5pm on Thursday,
January 23.

Throughout the festival, country music stars will sign merchandise at the Campfires marquee outside Ray Walsh House and the Campfires crew will participate in the Telstra Country Music Cavalcade and the grand entry of the National Finals Rodeo.

After the festival Akta-Vite Campfires Against Cancer will continue its 4600km journey through the Upper Hunter Valley and central NSW, celebrating the completion of the trek with a Lee Kernaghan concert at Corryong in April.

Media Contact:
Dan Phegan, Akta-Vite Campfires Against Cancer, 0429 995 662
Jenny Boardman, Akta-Vite Campfires Against Cancer, 0429 995 661
Megan Dixon, The Cancer Council, NSW north-west office, 6766 1164